Pittsburgh Liposuction for Men

Liposuction is perhaps the most common cosmetic surgery performed on male patients. It’s most commonly done on men in generally good shape, but have fat deposits on the abdomen and flanks (love handles) which are resistant to diet and exercise. When this fat is removed and a sensible diet and exercise plan is continued these procedures meet with much success in males of all ages.

More and more cosmetic surgeons are performing liposuction procedures on male patients. In previous decades liposuction surgery was almost exclusively done on females, yet today in some areas of the country up to 30% of liposuction patients are men. There’s a simple reason why: the typical, dreaded, middle-aged gut. Fat in this area is particularly hard to manage with diet and exercise alone, and more and more men are putting the matter into their cosmetic surgeon’s hands.

Liposuction Overview

Liposuction in Pittsburgh is a highly effective and hugely popular type of cosmetic surgery also known as “suction assisted lipectomy,” or simply “fat suction.” It is used to remove unwanted fat from virtually any area of the body, including the abdomen, flanks (love handles), thighs, buttocks, calves, and ankles. In its new, very minimally invasive form it can even treat the smallest areas, such as the chin, neck, and even the cheeks.

Liposuction is not a weight loss surgery, but rather a reshaping procedure. It removes unwanted, localized fat deposits that have proven resistant to exercise and a sensible diet. Good candidates are men and women of any age over 18 who are in overall good physical condition, yet can’t manage to lose stubborn concentrations of fat, for example the classic middle-aged-guy gut.

Newer liposuction techniques are extremely minimally invasive, so there’s as little downtime as possible. Generally speaking, patients return to work in about 3-7 days, depending on the scope of the procedure and how much fat was removed. As of right now, it’s by far the most commonly performed cosmetic surgical procedure, with hundreds being performed daily all across the country.

Men are Choosing Liposuction in Pittsburgh PA

While the majority of liposuction procedures are still performed on women, this is rapidly changing. Across males of every age groups liposuction is becoming increasingly popular, and right now it’s far and away the most commonly performed cosmetic surgery in the male population. The reasons why are simple, and remarkably similar across the sexes: people want to look their best at any age.

Another, more specific reason men are choosing liposuction has to do with huge improvements in technology and surgical techniques. Before ultra-modern, minimally invasive lipo procedures, liposuction was a relatively crude procedure. It could remove large fat pockets from areas like the abdomen and thighs, but didn’t allow for much precision sculpting. reducing a beer gut was doable, but achieving a set of six-pack abs wasn’t a realistic goal. Today it’s not only possible (provided that the underlying abdominal muscles are in good condition, it’s being performed daily in surgery centers everywhere in the country.

Commonly Treated Areas (these may surprise you)

With advances in technology and technique, liposuction has become a highly precise class of procedures. Right now, deposits of unwanted fat can be safely removed from virtually any area in the body:

• Abdomen
• Buttocks
• Arms
• Thighs and Hips
• Knees
• Calves
• Andles
• Neck and Chin
• Flanks (love handles)
• Lower Back Area

If you’re considering Pittsburgh liposuction, there’s no substitute for a one-on-one meeting with a Board certified cosmetic or plastic surgeon. These are almost always free of charge. You’ll discuss what you want to accomplish, and work together to develop realistic expectations based in part on before and after photos of similar patients.

Male Breast Reduction

Gynecomastia is the technical name for the enlargement of breast tissue in males. While often thought of simply as a result of obesity and the aging process, which are certainly factors, gynecomastia actually has several causes. Often, these causes overlap with one another to complicate the situation.

Lower levels of the sex hormone testosterone are one of the primary factors contributing to male breast enlargement. Test levels do decrease naturally with age, but many males have naturally lower levels to begin with. Certain medications, especially oral steroids, can contribute, as can a reduction in thyroid function, a condition known as hypothyroidism. Genetics and heredity play a large role, certain specific genetic conditions such as Klinefelter’s Syndrome feature gynecomastia as a symptom.

Assuming that the skin of the breast area is healthy and has good elasticity, gynecomastia is easily treated with liposuction. In reality, it’s just like any other smaller area, such as the inside of the knees or the backs of the arms.

Who is a good candidate?

Male liposuction will always be slightly different than similar procedures performed on females, and some procedures are male specific. Our surgical staff are experts at lining up potential male patients with specific approaches designed to meet their individual needs.

As with any liposuction procedure, the first step is consulting with your plastic or cosmetic surgeon. Liposuction Pittsburgh is meant to remove only concentrated, localized fat deposits and isn’t a weight loss procedure, so a candidate should be only moderately above his ideal weight. Their weight should be stable with no recent upswings or downswings, and should be non-smokers. Systemic diseases such as (well controlled) diabetes, lupus, and many others may complicate the situation somewhat, but usually won’t exclude a patient. Conditions which affect clotting and bleeding such as hemophilia will, however.

Minimally Invasive Techniques

There are several main techniques in use today. They share core similarities, and are variations on a successful theme. Certain techniques are broadly applicable (tumescent technique), while others have more of a niche application, and sometimes two techniques are used in a single liposuction procedure. It’s really about fitting the patient with the procedure which will suit them best.

Tumescent Technique

Large amounts of tumescent fluid are injected into the target area prior to surgery to add volume to the fatty tissue, which makes it easier to suction away. It also helps separate the fat cells from the surrounding tissue. This allows much less suction to be used, which means less trauma to surrounding tissue, including blood vessels. This both greatly reduces bleeding and improves healing. There’s no official consensus, but many in the field consider the tumescent approach the gold standard in liposuction due to it’s safety and effectiveness in a wide variety of situations.

Laser Assisted Technique

This popular technique is extremely minimally invasive, and is sometimes appropriate when it isn’t practical to inject large amounts of tumescent fluid. Conversely, sometimes both techniques are used together during the same surgery to achieve best results. During the procedure, fat is liquified using a fiber optic surgical laser before removal via suction. Laser lipo boasts minimal downtime, yet probably isn’t the best option for very large areas.

Vibration Assisted Technique

This is a variation of the tumescent technique. After tumescent fluid has added firmness to the treatment area, a special vacuum probe which vibrates at ultrasonic speeds is used to liquify fat deposits by basically shaking the individual fat cells apart. Much as with the tumescent technique, this reduces collateral damage and bleeding, yet allows a more aggressive treatment while simultaneously increasing patient comfort. It’s an excellent overall technique suited particularly well to large areas.

Outpatient Procedures

The minimally invasive nature of new liposuction techniques means that they can be performed at walk-in surgery centers or even private offices, and there’s no need for a hospital stay. One of the main reasons this is possible is that general anesthesia, e.g. being “put under,” isn’t necessary, so an anesthesiologist and an overnight stay for observation aren’t required. The procedures themselves usually take about 2 hours.

At the start of the surgery, small access incisions are made over the treatment area, preferably hidden in existing skin creases. Tumescent fluid containing local anesthetic such as lidocaine or bupivacaine is injected into the target fat deposits, which increases volume and adds firmness while also providing pain control. The anesthesia takes effect within seconds, and the fat is then suctioned out with a surgical vacuum probe known as a cannula.

POPULAR MALE PROCEDURES

Right now, 35-50 year old males are by far the fastest growing demographic among liposuction patients. Below are some of the most commonly preformed procedures:

• Abdominal liposuction with excess skin reduction, often called a tummy tuck by patients and surgeons alike. This is actually two procedures performed during the same surgical appointment. The goal is to not only remove abdominal fat, but to tighten the skin over the abdominal area to further improve body contours.
• Many males value a lean, angular facial appearance. Much as with a tummy tuck combined procedure, liposuction in areas such as the cheeks, chin, and neck are often combined with skin flap removal for a tighter, wrinkle free final look. This procedure is an outstanding way to reduce the signs of aging.
• Blepharoplasty, or eyelid surgery. This reduces puffiness and eyelid droop, and has a “brightening” effect, which tends to give a patient a more cheerful, well-rested look.

Post Treatment Recovery

However noninvasive these procedures are, you’ll still need a driver, since either oral or injectable sedatives are commonly used to put the patient in a “twilight” state. It’s also recommended that someone stay with you for at least the next 24 hours to keep an eye on you and help with basic tasks. Some level of swelling, bruising, soreness, and pain are unavoidable. In most cases you’ll be provided with a short course of narcotic pain medication, after which over the counter medications such as naproxen and ibuprofen will suffice.

An important part of aftercare is the compression garment. This acts to provide pressure over the entire treatment area and the areas surrounding it, and can be thought of as a kind of “body sock.” This helps keep swelling to a manageable level, and ensures good contact between the skin and underlying tissue to optimize healing. Most patients can return to non-strenuous work within 3-7 days, yet must avoid vigorous activity such as lifting weights or running for the next 3 weeks. After that, activities can be resumed without restriction, and the patient is left to enjoy their new shape and contours.

Pittsburgh Liposuction Consultation

It all starts with a one-on-one consultation with a surgeon of your choice. A full medical history will be taken, and you’ll be given a focused physical exam to make sure you’re healthy enough for a liposuction procedure. If the answer is yes, you’ll discuss exactly what options might suit you best.

An essential part of the pre-operative process is working with your surgeon to set realistic goals and expectations. Liposuction is for improving body shape, not losing weight, and without additional procedures such as removing excess skin flaps, it won’t tighten loose skin. It also can’t reverse fatty skin changes known as cellulite.

Another important and sometimes overlooked part of a good liposuction consultation is a review of diet and exercise habits. Liposuction works best if used only to remove diet and exercise resistant fat deposits. It may be in the patient’s best interest to postpone surgery until more healthy lifestyle patterns have been put into place.

The Recovery Process

Pittsburgh Liposuction, formally known as suction-assisted lipectomy, is one of the most popular cosmetic surgeries performed around the world. The process is much as it sounds: after preparing the area to be treated in various ways, small incisions are made, and fat deposits are removed from the body using surgical vacuums.

The most common areas where liposuction is performed are the abdomen, flanks, thighs, hips, and buttocks. Breast reduction, both female and male, is also popular. Yet due to modern technical advances liposuction has become much more precise, and small areas such as the neck, chin, and even the cheeks can be successfully treated.

We also have done many many Male Brazilian Butt Lifts, which is a specialty of Dr Giraldos MD

How much will it hurt?

Pain is a very individual experience. Different people can have very different pain thresholds, and especially with modern, non-invasive procedures many patients report very little pain. Water Jet Lipo, or Aqualipo liposuction performed on many areas of the body, are generally very well tolerated with only a short course of pain medication prescribed after the procedure.